title: Work-family conflict among athletic trainers in the secondary school setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-family conflict (WFC) negatively affects a professional's ability to function at work or home.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine perceptions of and contributing factors to WFC among secondary school athletic trainers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sequential explanatory mixed-methods study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary school.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a random sample of 1325 individuals selected from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Member Services database, 415 individuals (203 women, 212 men; age = 36.8 ± 9.3 years) provided usable online survey data. Fourteen individuals participated in follow-up interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online WFC questionnaire followed by in-depth phone interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics were obtained to examine perceived WFC. Pearson product moment correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between work hours, total athletic training staff, and number of children and WFC score. We performed analysis of variance to examine differences between the independent variables of sex and control over work schedule and the dependent variable of WFC score. The a priori α was set at P ≤ .05. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Multiple-analyst triangulation and member checks established trustworthiness of the qualitative data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean WFC scores were 23.97 ± 7.78 for scale 1 (family defined as having a partner or spouse with or without children) and 23.17 ± 7.69 for scale 2 (family defined as individuals, including parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other close relatives, involved in one's life), indicating moderate perceived WFC. A significant relationship was found between the average hours of work per week and WFC scores: those with less scheduling control experienced more WFC. Two dimensions emerged from the qualitative methods that relate to how WFC is mitigated in the secondary school environment: (1) organizational-having colleagues and administration that understood the role demands and allowed for modifications in schedule and personal time and (2) personal-taking time for oneself and having a family that understands the work demands of an athletic trainer resulted in reduced perceived WFC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of work hours per week and lack of control over work schedules affected the perceived level of WFC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb 60115, USA. wpitney@niu.edu
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Pitney
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mazerolle
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Pagnotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D013177:Sports; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D016526:Workload